Dan Kelly (musician)
Encyclopedia
Daniel "Dan" Kelly is an Australian singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is the second oldest of six children and the nephew of Paul Kelly
. He grew up in Queensland and learnt the guitar at thirteen, studying Environmental Science at University, in Brisbane, in 1990. He formed his first band, Nord, in Brisbane before moving to Melbourne in 1996, where in 2000 he started playing solo shows, under the name Dank Alley, not wanting to trade on his famous uncle’s name. In May, 2003 he released his first solo EP
, Man O Mercy, which spawned the radio hit "Countermeal Kim".
The next year he formed a new band, Dan Kelly and the Alpha Males, comprising Kelly with Gareth Liddiard (The Drones
), Christian Strybosch (The Drones) and Tom Carlyon (The Devastations
). They were best known for the falsetto vocal stylings of Kelly, touring alongside Dallas Crane
, Dan Brodie and The Broken Arrows
, Even
, as well as at The Falls Festival
in Melbourne and Tasmania and selected Big Day Out
s. In March 2004 they released their debut album, Sing the Tabloid Blues
, on In-Fidelity Recordings. Kelly was nominated for 'Best Male Artist', with the band receiving two nominations for 'Best Independent Release' and 'Breakthrough Artist' for the album at the 2004 ARIA Awards
. At the same time Kelly also joined his uncle's band, Paul Kelly and the Boon Companions, performing on his 2004 album, Ways & Means.
In 2005 Liddiard and Carlyon travelled to Europe with their respective other projects, with Aaron Cupples, Dan Luscombe and Lewis Boyes joining the Alpha Males. The band then released an EP, Pirate Radio, in October, 2005. Kelly receiving his second 'Best Male Artist' ARIA Award
nomination for the release. The band gained significant press coverage in mid-2006 when their single "Drunk on Election Night" - a reflection on the disillusionment many experienced during the evening of the Australian federal election, 2004 - was hand picked by Neil Young
to be included in his "Living With War Songs of The Times".
Their second album, Drowning in the Fountain of Youth
, released in August, 2006, was awarded Album of the Year 2006 by Melbourne-based music magazine Inpress
. Kelly received his third nomination for 'Best Male Artist' at the 2007 ARIA Awards
. The album was also short-listed for the 2006 J Award
. In early 2007, Dan Kelly announced his backing band, the Alpha Males, were to disband for an undecided amount of time to allow the individual members to focus on other projects, a pertinent example being the addition of Dan Luscombe to the line up of fellow Melbourne outfit, The Drones
. Kelly again joined his uncle, performing on his 2007 album, Stolen Apples and subsequent national tour and has often returned to his touring band since.
In 2008 he teamed up with Melbourne faux Hawaiian duo, The Ukeladies, to release "The S.U.V Song", undertaking a number of headline shows and support shows with Augie March
, in October and November 2008.
In late 2009 Kelly commenced work on a new album, Dan Kelly's Dream (formerly The Decommisioner). The first single, "Bindi Irwin Apocalypse Jam", was released in April 2010. Kelly undertook a national tour with a new line up called Dan Kelly's Dream Band comprising Dave Williams and Kiernan Box (from Augie March
), Indra Adams (from Ground Components
) and Ryan Nelson (from SubAudible Hum
). Dallas Packard (Ground Components
), Alpha Male Lewis Boyes and Kelly's teenage cousins Madeleine and Memphis Kelly (daughters of Paul Kelly
) also featured on the album, with the girls frequently joining the touring band on stage to provide backing vocals.
Paul Kelly (musician)
Paul Maurice Kelly is an Australian rock music singer-songwriter, guitarist, and harmonica player. He has performed solo, and has led numerous groups, including the Dots, the Coloured Girls, and the Messengers. He has worked with other artists and groups, including associated projects Professor...
. He grew up in Queensland and learnt the guitar at thirteen, studying Environmental Science at University, in Brisbane, in 1990. He formed his first band, Nord, in Brisbane before moving to Melbourne in 1996, where in 2000 he started playing solo shows, under the name Dank Alley, not wanting to trade on his famous uncle’s name. In May, 2003 he released his first solo EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, Man O Mercy, which spawned the radio hit "Countermeal Kim".
The next year he formed a new band, Dan Kelly and the Alpha Males, comprising Kelly with Gareth Liddiard (The Drones
The Drones
The Drones are an Australian rock group who rose to prominence during the early 2000s. They are influenced by a variety of bands and soloists including Neil Young, The Velvet Underground, Bad Brains, Suicide, Green on Red, The Birthday Party, Van Morrison, Bob Dylan and Nina Simone.- The Sound...
), Christian Strybosch (The Drones) and Tom Carlyon (The Devastations
The Devastations
Devastations are an indie rock band from Melbourne, Australia. The band was founded in 2002 by the three friends Tom Carlyon, Hugo Cran and Conrad Standish after the end of their former band Luxedo....
). They were best known for the falsetto vocal stylings of Kelly, touring alongside Dallas Crane
Dallas Crane
Dallas Crane is an Australian alternative rock band from Melbourne, Australia.Dallas Crane was named after the father of a mate of the band.In January 2004, the band signed a recording and publishing deal with Albert Productions, the home of AC/DC. The band recorded an album with Wayne Connolly,...
, Dan Brodie and The Broken Arrows
Dan Brodie
Dan Brodie is an ARIA Award nominated singer/songwriter from Melbourne, Australia.His debut EP, I'm Floatin' Mama was independently released in 1998; followed by his debut album, Big Black Guitar. Backed by The Broken Arrows , Brodie signed to EMI who re-released his debut album...
, Even
Even (band)
Even are an Australian indie rock three-piece fronted by singer/songwriter/guitarist Ashley Naylor, with Matthew Cotter on drums and Wally Kempton on bass and backing vocals...
, as well as at The Falls Festival
Falls Festival
The Falls Festival is a New Year's Eve music festival, held annually in Lorne, Victoria and Marion Bay, Tasmania Australia since 1993.It lasts four days, from 29 December to 1 January each year. The headline acts play mostly over two evenings, 30 December and 31 December...
in Melbourne and Tasmania and selected Big Day Out
Big Day Out
The Big Day Out is an annual music festival held in several cities in Australia and New Zealand in late January. It started in Sydney in 1992, spread to Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth by 1993, with the Gold Coast and Auckland joining in 1994...
s. In March 2004 they released their debut album, Sing the Tabloid Blues
The Tabloid Blues
The Tabloid Blues is the debut album by Australian act Dan Kelly & The Alpha Males.The album was released on 15 March 2004 on In-Fidelity Records and distributed by Shock records....
, on In-Fidelity Recordings. Kelly was nominated for 'Best Male Artist', with the band receiving two nominations for 'Best Independent Release' and 'Breakthrough Artist' for the album at the 2004 ARIA Awards
ARIA Music Awards of 2004
The 18th Annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards were held on 17 October 2004 at the Sydney Superdome within the Sydney Olympic Complex...
. At the same time Kelly also joined his uncle's band, Paul Kelly and the Boon Companions, performing on his 2004 album, Ways & Means.
In 2005 Liddiard and Carlyon travelled to Europe with their respective other projects, with Aaron Cupples, Dan Luscombe and Lewis Boyes joining the Alpha Males. The band then released an EP, Pirate Radio, in October, 2005. Kelly receiving his second 'Best Male Artist' ARIA Award
ARIA Music Awards of 2006
The 20th Annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards were held on 29 October 2006 at the Acer Arena at the Sydney Olympic Park complex...
nomination for the release. The band gained significant press coverage in mid-2006 when their single "Drunk on Election Night" - a reflection on the disillusionment many experienced during the evening of the Australian federal election, 2004 - was hand picked by Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
to be included in his "Living With War Songs of The Times".
Their second album, Drowning in the Fountain of Youth
Drowning in the Fountain of Youth
Drowning in the Fountain of Youth is the second album by Australian act Dan Kelly & The Alpha Males. The album received very positive reviews within the Melbourne music scene, even being considered the Album of 2006 by Melbourne Street Magazine Inpress...
, released in August, 2006, was awarded Album of the Year 2006 by Melbourne-based music magazine Inpress
Inpress
Inpress is a free weekly tabloid-sized music magazine that is released in Melbourne, Geelong and Mornington Peninsula areas of Victoria, Australia...
. Kelly received his third nomination for 'Best Male Artist' at the 2007 ARIA Awards
ARIA Music Awards of 2007
The 21st Annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards were held on 28 October 2007 at the Acer Arena at the Sydney Olympic Park complex. Rove McManus was the host of the event...
. The album was also short-listed for the 2006 J Award
J Award
The J Award is an award given by influential Australian youth radio station Triple J to Australian Album of the Year. It is judged by a panel of members of the music industry, led by Richard Kingsmill...
. In early 2007, Dan Kelly announced his backing band, the Alpha Males, were to disband for an undecided amount of time to allow the individual members to focus on other projects, a pertinent example being the addition of Dan Luscombe to the line up of fellow Melbourne outfit, The Drones
The Drones
The Drones are an Australian rock group who rose to prominence during the early 2000s. They are influenced by a variety of bands and soloists including Neil Young, The Velvet Underground, Bad Brains, Suicide, Green on Red, The Birthday Party, Van Morrison, Bob Dylan and Nina Simone.- The Sound...
. Kelly again joined his uncle, performing on his 2007 album, Stolen Apples and subsequent national tour and has often returned to his touring band since.
In 2008 he teamed up with Melbourne faux Hawaiian duo, The Ukeladies, to release "The S.U.V Song", undertaking a number of headline shows and support shows with Augie March
Augie March
Augie March are an Australian indie/pop rock band. Formed in 1996 in Shepparton, Victoria, the band currently consists of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Glenn Richards, lead guitarist Adam Donovan, bassist Edmondo Ammendola, drummer David Williams, and keyboardist Kiernan Box...
, in October and November 2008.
In late 2009 Kelly commenced work on a new album, Dan Kelly's Dream (formerly The Decommisioner). The first single, "Bindi Irwin Apocalypse Jam", was released in April 2010. Kelly undertook a national tour with a new line up called Dan Kelly's Dream Band comprising Dave Williams and Kiernan Box (from Augie March
Augie March
Augie March are an Australian indie/pop rock band. Formed in 1996 in Shepparton, Victoria, the band currently consists of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Glenn Richards, lead guitarist Adam Donovan, bassist Edmondo Ammendola, drummer David Williams, and keyboardist Kiernan Box...
), Indra Adams (from Ground Components
Ground Components
Ground Components are an angular soul-punk-rock band formed and based in Melbourne, Australia. Formed December 2002, in East Brunswick, a suburb of Melbourne.Their first public performance were in 2002, playing with friends bands and at small house parties...
) and Ryan Nelson (from SubAudible Hum
SubAudible Hum
SubAudible Hum are an indie rock band based in Melbourne, Australia. Often compared to Radiohead they are active on the live circuit, particularly in their home town, they have released three albums, one of which was nominated for the J Award; In Time For Spring, On Came The Snow...
). Dallas Packard (Ground Components
Ground Components
Ground Components are an angular soul-punk-rock band formed and based in Melbourne, Australia. Formed December 2002, in East Brunswick, a suburb of Melbourne.Their first public performance were in 2002, playing with friends bands and at small house parties...
), Alpha Male Lewis Boyes and Kelly's teenage cousins Madeleine and Memphis Kelly (daughters of Paul Kelly
Paul Kelly (musician)
Paul Maurice Kelly is an Australian rock music singer-songwriter, guitarist, and harmonica player. He has performed solo, and has led numerous groups, including the Dots, the Coloured Girls, and the Messengers. He has worked with other artists and groups, including associated projects Professor...
) also featured on the album, with the girls frequently joining the touring band on stage to provide backing vocals.
Dan Kelly and the Alpha Males
- Sing the Tabloid BluesThe Tabloid BluesThe Tabloid Blues is the debut album by Australian act Dan Kelly & The Alpha Males.The album was released on 15 March 2004 on In-Fidelity Records and distributed by Shock records....
- In-Fidelity Recordings (IF009CD) (15 March 2004) - Pirate Radio - In-Fidelity Recordings (1 October 2005)
- Drowning in the Fountain of YouthDrowning in the Fountain of YouthDrowning in the Fountain of Youth is the second album by Australian act Dan Kelly & The Alpha Males. The album received very positive reviews within the Melbourne music scene, even being considered the Album of 2006 by Melbourne Street Magazine Inpress...
- In-Fidelity Recordings (INFCD-125) (12 August 2006)
Albums
- Man O Mercy - In-Fidelity Recordings (IF002CD) (12 May 2003)
- Dan Kelly's Dream - (16 July 2010)
Singles
- "The S.U.V Song" (2008)
- "Bindi Irwin Apocalypse Jam" - ShockShock RecordsShock Records is Australia's largest independent record label. It helps distribute records from overseas records labels such as Epitaph Records, and also for small record labels designed specifically for that band such as Cement Records...
(April, 2010)
Award nominations
- 2007 ARIA Awards, Best Male Artist for Drowning in the Fountain of YouthDrowning in the Fountain of YouthDrowning in the Fountain of Youth is the second album by Australian act Dan Kelly & The Alpha Males. The album received very positive reviews within the Melbourne music scene, even being considered the Album of 2006 by Melbourne Street Magazine Inpress...
- 2006 J AwardJ AwardThe J Award is an award given by influential Australian youth radio station Triple J to Australian Album of the Year. It is judged by a panel of members of the music industry, led by Richard Kingsmill...
, Australian Album of the Year for Drowning in the Fountain of YouthDrowning in the Fountain of YouthDrowning in the Fountain of Youth is the second album by Australian act Dan Kelly & The Alpha Males. The album received very positive reviews within the Melbourne music scene, even being considered the Album of 2006 by Melbourne Street Magazine Inpress... - 2006 ARIA Awards, Best Male Artist for Pirate RadioPirate radioPirate radio is illegal or unregulated radio transmission. The term is most commonly used to describe illegal broadcasting for entertainment or political purposes, but is also sometimes used for illegal two-way radio operation...
- 2004 ARIA Awards, Best Male Artist for Sing the Tabloid BluesThe Tabloid BluesThe Tabloid Blues is the debut album by Australian act Dan Kelly & The Alpha Males.The album was released on 15 March 2004 on In-Fidelity Records and distributed by Shock records....
- 2004 ARIA Awards, Breakthrough Artist for Sing the Tabloid BluesThe Tabloid BluesThe Tabloid Blues is the debut album by Australian act Dan Kelly & The Alpha Males.The album was released on 15 March 2004 on In-Fidelity Records and distributed by Shock records....
- 2004 ARIA Awards, Best Independent Release for Sing the Tabloid BluesThe Tabloid BluesThe Tabloid Blues is the debut album by Australian act Dan Kelly & The Alpha Males.The album was released on 15 March 2004 on In-Fidelity Records and distributed by Shock records....